Uncle
Why did he not think of him as a father? He was quite obviously father material, as he had had his own son… but why could he himself only think of him as uncle?
They had been through much, and he knew that much. You do not just have someone by your side for three long years and not encounter events that brought you closer or farther apart from said person. Three years was long enough to change a man and no one knew this better than the Fire Lord himself.
So why could he not think of his tea-loving uncle as a father to him-the father he never had? The answer to that question was in the question itself.
He did have a father.
His father was merciless, manipulative, and cruel. The former Fire Lord cared only for himself, power, and the advantage he had over others. The answer had been right in front of his face the whole entire time and yet he had not been able to supply an answer when the question had been implied, but now he could.
Now, he could face his uncle and tell him why he did not think of him as a father. He could do it without stuttering or feeling angry at anyone, even himself.
He was not his father, and never would be, because his uncle was so much better than that. In his own world, a father was a heartless man who fed off the pain and misery of those weaker than him, even his own family. The old tea-loving man did not even fall anywhere near this category.
He was better.
My first A:TLA story... if you could call it that. Just something I played with for awhile in my head and wrote so I could get a feeling for Zuko's character. Some say he's easy to write, but I think he's a difficult, conflicted character. Criticism is appreciated, but don't burn me with you flames please!
Lunar Calling